Fall 2014
ENGL 3140: INTERMEDIATE CREATIVE WRITING: FICTION
Section 2 T/Th 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m. (AB 217) Section 1 T/Th 2:00 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. (AB 218)
Dr. Barbara Rodman Office: AB 213C
Office hours: T/Th 12:30-2; Th 3:30-5:00 and by
Phone: 940-565-2050 (English dept. ofc) appointment (please email)
Course Description: This course is designed to develop skills in writing short fiction. Discussions and assignments will include finding a subject and getting started, identifying the elements of a short story, developing characters, creating credible scenes, understanding plot, and working on revisions. Active participation in writing, discussion, and group activities is required, including the giving and receiving of criticism. Final grades will be based upon individual progress in writing, willingness and ability to make revisions/start over, and class attendance and participation.
Required Texts:
· Writing Fiction, Janet Burroway, ninth edition (Note: If you order books online, be aware that older editions do not include the same readings/page numbers and are not compatible with reading assignments.)
· A good college dictionary.
· A Writer's Reference, Diana Hacker, or other reliable handbook
Important notes about writing assignments:
1. Though print copies of your written work will be in used in class for group work, assignments must be turned in through Blackboard to receive credit for them. I do not accept paper or email copies of work. See section on grading at the end of this syllabus for more information.
2. You should be writing at least five times a week for fifteen minutes to an hour each time, and then selecting which pieces you want to rewrite/revise/proofread and bring to class for work in small groups. As we work on exercises, I often suggest particular assignments to bring to class so that everyone is focusing on the same topic or skill, but I strongly encourage you to adapt these assignments to your own interests. For example, you might write about your own character’s first kiss or describe the house s/he grew up in (if that is the assignment given). In addition, you may do as much writing on other scenes, characters, and plots as you like. You decide which works you turn in at Blackboard, and I hope to see many of the nonrequired pieces there.
3. As a general rule, writing you turn in at Blackboard or bring to class for group work should be 3-5 pages double-spaced. It should also have been proofread for spelling, typos, punctuation, etc. See “Format for Written Assignments” at the end of this syllabus.
Aug. 26: Introductions, Getting Acquainted
(Note: Reading assignments must be completed PRIOR TO CLASS. Most days we will begin with a quiz or discussion of the reading topics/stories.) You need to buy a book IMMEDIATELY.)
Aug. 28: Read Chapter One, Whatever Works: The Writing Process (1-19)
Upload a file of your own writing to “Practice” Folder at Blackboard by 5:00 p.m. Friday. You can make one of the lists described in this chapter, tell me a bit about yourself, or do some freewriting. I just want to make sure everyone knows how to use Blackboard and upload a file in the proper format. (5 points)
Sept. 2: Writing Assignment—(see note #2 above): Write as much and as often as you can, but FOR CLASS choose:
1. Items from the list of “firsts” (started in class).
2. Any exercise from p. 19-20.
Write 1-2 pages (typed, double-spaced) and bring to class. You may also upload this assignment to Blackboard in the First/Freewriting folder.
Sept. 4: Chapter Two, Seeing is Believing (21-43); “We Didn’t,” Stuart Dybek, 43-52
Be prepared for a quiz at the beginning of class.
Sept. 9: (1.) **REQUIRED Writing Sample: Choose from 1, 4, or 7 on p. 66. I will be evaluating your basic writing skills—word choice, sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, etc. so PROOFREAD CLOSELY. Use your Handbook or an online resource such as OWL-Purdue. Due at Blackboard by 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
(2.) Bring to class 3 copies of one of the exercises. This may or may not be the same piece you turn in at Blackboard, but it might be helpful to bring a piece to class and then make revisions/corrections before you turn it in. Just sayin.’ J
Sept. 11: Chapter Three, Building Character (67-83); “Emergency,” Denis Johnson, (106-114).
Chapter Four, The Flesh Made Word (116-138).
Be sure to read pages 80-83 on dialogue format to make sure you know how to punctuate dialogue and use paragraph breaks to indicate changes in speaker. I’ll hold you responsible for the tips and rules offered there.
Sept. 16: Writing: Dialogue, tags, action. Choose from exercises 2 – 6 p. 115 or # 4 p. 155. Make sure the piece you bring to class (3 copies) focuses on the introduction of characters and uses as many of the means of revealing them (discussed in Chap. 3 and 4) as possible.
Sept. 18: Chapter Five: Fictional Place, 156-72, and Chapter Six: Fictional Time, 193-207; “St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves,” Karen Russell, 172-184
Sept. 23: Writing: Focus on the use of details to establish time and place by showing rather than telling. Look at the exercises on p. 191-92 and 228-9 for ideas.
Sept. 25: Bring two copies of your rough draft to class.
Sept. 25 (Thursday): Extra Credit Event--Visiting Writer JoAnn Beard. Q & A at 4:00 p.m. and Reading at 8:00 p.m.
Sept. 28 (Sunday): Short Story #1 due by 5 p.m. Upload at Blackboard Learn in the Short Story #1 folder. (see attachment/Blackboard for format guidelines)
Sept. 30, Oct. 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21 Workshops Hard copies will be handed out in class and will also be available for download from Blackboard in the Workshop One folder.
Oct. 7 Extra Credit Event: Visiting Writer Dan Beachy-Quick Q & A 4:00 p. m. Public Reading 8:00 p. m.
Oct. 23: Chapter Seven, The Tower and the Net (230-251); “The Fun House,” Sherman Alexie, 224-227: “Currents,” Hannah Bottomy Vaskuil, 227-28; “No One’s a Mystery,” Elizabeth Tallent, 306-308
Oct. 28: Write: Choose #2, 4, 5, or 6 on page 275. Bring copies to class as usual.
Oct. 30 : Chapter Eight, Call Me Ishmael (276-292); “Reply All,” Robin Hemley (305-314) and “Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff, (138-42)
Nov. 2: (Sunday)—Story #2 Due at Blackboard by 5 p.m.
Nov. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25: Workshops
Nov. 5 (Wednesday): Visiting Writer Alexander Hemon. Q & A 4:00 p.m. and Reading 8:00 p.m. THIS IS A REQUIRED EVENT. If you are unable to attend either the reading or the Q & A, you must complete an alternative assignment. See Dr. Rodman for details
Nov. 27: Thanksgiving (No Class)
Final Exam/Student Readings: All students will do a 10 minute reading of their own work in lieu of a written final at the end of the semester. The Final Exam session is scheduled for this purpose.
Student Readings: Dec. 2, 4 and Section 2: Dec. 9 (Tuesday): 10:30 -12:30 pm; Section 1: Dec. 11 (Thursday):1:30 - 3:30 pm
Grades will be computed as follows:
*Class Attendance/participation/quizzes 20%
Includes Required Events, Student Reading, etc.
**Blackboard Journal (10 completed = 100 pts.) 20%
Short Story #1 20%
Short Story #2 20%
Final Project 20%
*Class Attendance: Points are earned for each day of attendance; perfect attendance will be rewarded with extra credit points. I appreciate being contacted if you have an illness, family crisis, transportations issues, etc. Assignments are due on the stated date even if you miss class.
**Blackboard Journal: By the end of the semester, each student must have added at least ten writing assignments at Blackboard. Suggested writing exercises and assignments are regularly offered in class or on the syllabus. Students may use in-class exercises if they wish to finish and upload them. Each assignment should be 3-5 double-spaced (typed) pages. Each is worth 10 points; grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, word choice, and overall writing quality will be considered. However, some weeks’ assignments are REQUIRED and must be turned in before the stated due date.
Remember-- the teacher assigns grades, not your classmates. If you are in doubt regarding my standards, please see me early in the semester.
Required and Extra Credit Reports on Visiting Writers: All reports must be uploaded at Blackboard within a week of the event. Reports should include detailed information regarding the material read such as titles and subject matter as well as subjective analysis of the event (i.e., you like/disliked it, etc.). You may submit separate reports for the Q & A and Reading. I need enough detail to know you actually attended the event. Writer Alexander Hemon will be a visiting writer TBA. This will be a required event.
Class communications: Check Blackboard regularly (I’d suggest several times a week) for announcements, changes to syllabus, etc. You may use the email system to contact me to ask questions or let me know you might miss class, but do NOT turn in stories or other work by email. If you don’t know how to use Blackboard, it’s your job to figure it out immediately.
Stories one and two: Stories are usually a minimum of 8-12 pages unless you’re doing a “short short” story (no more than 20 without my permission). Each story must have an appropriate and intriguing title, a compelling beginning and some kind conclusion. I’m particularly concerned with character development, including appropriate and interesting dialogue and control of point of view. In addition, the use of appropriate details to establish credible scenes is vital. I’ll also look at your attention to style (diction, syntax, use of figurative language) and will take into account the maturity and interest of the subject matter (theme), and evidence of rewriting and revision. The final criteria is overall evidence of creativity and effort.
Final Project: This is graded as a new story (using the criteria listed above) and should include approximately 8-12 pages of mostly new writing, but may be derived from/based on characters and events in one of your earlier stories. It should demonstrate that you have heard and assimilated the suggestions/critiques of earlier works and that you are capable of correcting problems identified. Though it should be grammatically correct, simply correcting errors will NOT result in a new grade. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the teacher prior to deciding what to do for this project.
Note: If you would like to receive reminders about Visiting Writers, job opportunities, publication announcements—send a blank email from your preferred account to
**Note: This syllabus may be changed at any time for various reasons. Changes will be announced at Blackboard Learn and in class. Pay Attention! I cannot overstress the importance of frequent checks of your unt.edu email and the Blackboard website for this class.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES
1. Attendance is MANDATORY. More than four (4) absences may result in the lowering of your grade. Seven (7) or more may result in an F. Being absent is NOT an acceptable reason for missing a due date. If you are absent for religious or university-related purposes, you must comply with university policies regarding notification and making up of work.
2. Class attendance and participation are a significant part of your grade in this course. Assigned writing is due AT THE BEGINNING of the class period and in appropriate form and number.
3. Plagiarism is the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of published or unpublished writing of another person without giving full and clear acknowledgment. It includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by a person or agency engaged in the selling of academic materials as well as the paid or unpaid assistance of a "friend" who wants to "help" you out. Plagiarism is defined at UNT as “the use of another’s thoughts or
words without proper attribution in any academic exercise, regardless of the student’s intent, including but not limited to: 1. the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement or citation. 2. the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or by an agency engaged in selling term papers or other academic materials.” The minimum punishment will be an F for the course; the maximum might include expulsion from the university.
4. I do not grade "on a curve" or compare one student's work with another's. Work that meets the minimum requirements of the course will receive a C. An A or B represents levels of achievement well above the minimum. Your work must be exceptional, not merely adequate, to earn an A.
5. Please note that this is a WRITING course offered for upper-division English credit. I expect students to know fundamental rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, and the other "mechanics" of writing. We do not spend class time on such topics and I will lower grades SUBSTANTIALLY for excessive errors. If you are concerned about your abilities in this area, please see me early in the semester to discuss ways you can work on your problems. If you cannot write correctly, you will have difficulty receiving above a C or a D on your assignments no matter how creative they are. I also reserve the right to withhold manuscripts from class discussion (i.e., workshop presentation) if they do not meet minimum requirements.